Ville Aslak
Raasakka
Ville Aslak Raasakka is a Finnish composer specialized in ecology. His works are based on bioacoustic recordings, environmental research and data from seaweeds, coal mines, soil insects, oil rigs, tree roots, power plants and marine microbes. Raasakka studied with Veli-Matti Puumala at the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki) and privately with Georges Aperghis (Paris).
In 2025-2026 Raasakka works on commissions for the Mivos Quartet (New York) + Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK), Lorelei Dowling (Klangforum Wien), Design Museum (London), Chamber Orchestra Avanti! (Helsinki) + Sirja Nironen (FI) + Tampere Biennale (FI), and the Rainy days Festival (Luxembourg) + Yarn/Wire (New York) + Speak Percussion (Melbourne).
"The world premiere by Ville Raasakka picks up to denounce the lack of forest protection in Finland. 'The Harvest' lets a chainsaw massacre roar."
– Christoph Irrgeher, Wiener Zeitung
"An independent and convincing voice"
– Michael Rebhahn, Neue Zeitschirft für Musik
Engagements in 2024-2026
BBC Symphony Orchestra // London, United Kingdom
Rainy days Festival // Philharmonie Luxembourg
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival // United Kingdom
ISCM World New Music Days // Lisbon, Portugal
Mivos Quartet // New York City, United States
Lorelei Dowling, bassoon, Klangforum Wien // Vienna, Austria
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity // Banff, Canada
Yarn/Wire // New York City, United States
London Design Museum // London, United Kingdom
Kaisa Kortelainen, flute // Helsinki, Finland
Annette Bik, violin, Klangforum Wien // Vienna, Austria
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra // Turku, Finland
Speak Percussion // Melbourne, Australia
Chamber Orchestra Avanti! // Helsinki, Finland
Upcoming Works
The Trees are Talking (2025) 25'
for String Quartet and Electronics
Commissioned by the Mivos Quartet, New York City, United States
and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, United Kingdom
Kelp Council (2025)
Seaweed Sculptures with Underwater Sound Design
Co-composed with designer Julia Lohmann
Commissioned for the ’More Than Human’ exhibition
London Design Museum, United Kingdom
A Black Carbon Haze (2025) 10'
for Contraforte, Viola and Tenor Saxophone
Commissioned by Lorelei Dowling (Klangforum Wien)
and the Teosto Commission Fund, Helsinki, Finland
New Work (2026) 20'
for 13 Percussionists
Commissioned by the Rainy Days Festival, Philharmonie Luxembourg
for the Yarn/Wire, New York City, United States
and the Speak Percussion, Melbourne, Australia
Sound Woven on a Spider’s Web (2026) 30'
Series of Etudes for Violin
Commissioned by Annette Bik (Klangforum Wien)
Ballast (2026) 15'
Concerto for Cello, Electronics and Chamber Orchestra
Commissioned by Sirja Nironen (FI)
Tampere Biennale (FI)
and the Chamber Orchestra Avanti!, Helsinki, Finland
Complete Works for Flute (2025)
Album of All Chamber Works for Flute
Kaisa Kortelainen (FI), Flute
Tuija Hakkila (FI), Piano
Petri Kumela (FI), Guitar
